Humanities Information

How to Make Your Civil War Uniform Shirt


Your own shirt designed and made by you for your own Civil War Uniform Impression is easy and economical. Follow these simple directions, and your Civil War uniform shirt will be exactly how you want it.

Take all of your girth measurements.

Using a tape measure, measure your chest, stomach and note the bigger of the two measurements. Write it all down in inches. Do not suck your stomach or chest in. Be sure you are in a comfortable position, so your shirt will fit properly.

Next, measure from top of shoulder to mid-thigh, so you can tell how long you want the shirt to be. Next, measure then from shoulder tip to wrist with arm bent at a 90 degree angle, so the sleeve will have enough room in it for you to move freely and comfortably.

Measure your bicep and wrist.

Measure your neck.

Start looking for material but don't buy anything until measurements are completed

Look at original photographs and decide which type of shirt you like and would be comfortable wearing on the march. Look at the collars and variations on how the neck is done. The collar is an easy part of the shirt to change also. A standard placard front with a slit for the head is desirable and very accurate.

Purchase a shirt pattern. Follow assembly procedures.

Now you are ready to choose your material. 100% cotton or Osnaburg is recommended. Muted colors are more of what was worn during the Civil War. If I were going to do a shirt just starting out, I would go with a red, white and/or blue homespun. I would stay away from real bright colors. Use muted-color fabrics. I think it looks much more accurate that way. The reason I said red, white, and blue is that both armies were patriotic and those color combinations were popular in the Civil War Era.

Hand topstitch around the pocket and neck. Your hand topstitching should be about 6 - 8 stitches per inch. If you do this hand stitching, you have just doubled the value of your shirt and jacket.

You probably will not start the hobby out as much of a tailor. My first few handmade items were a joke, but eventually I got to where I can put together a good uniform. I would stay away from shirts that were real fancy. If you don't want to make your own shirt, purchase a shirt that is already made that has machine buttonholes in it and rework the buttonholes to make it look more authentic. Take a seam ripper and pick out the buttonholes and handwork them. I would pick out and redo by hand all exposed machine stitching. Someone can show you how to do that in about 15 minutes. You have just doubled the value of your shirt and made it more authentic.

For photographs of shirt designs, patriotic combinations, and topstitching, go to http://www.civilwaruniforms.net/shirts.htm

Next, get yourself some good buttons. Stay away from plastic and modern buttons. Go with glass, bone, shell, metal, porcelain, 2-hole cat's eye or Mother of Pearl. Metal buttons are authentic, but they have the potential to rust and stain your fabric. Some of the sutlers that sell fabric and sewing items have buttons.

Or I have a ton of buttons I might be talked into parting with. Buttons can also be found at flea markets, antique stores, in old button baskets, tins or jars. Frequently, you can buy a whole jar of buttons for $3 - check out the buttons in it, and if you find a substantial antique buttons, it certainly is worth it. Sometimes the jar is as valuable as the buttons! I have found jars full of buttons with a hundred dollar button in it. Small items like buttons can make a huge difference and increase the value of your shirt, jacket, pants, etc.

http://www.civilwaruniforms.net/civilwarshirtbuttons.htm

Try to get solid brass buttons. Waterbury is good. Original buttons are a bit pricey but not out of the question. If you are getting U.S. Eagle buttons, sutlers have them. Stay away from the ones that are plated. I personally just use coin buttons. If you are doing a state regiment, you want to go with state seal buttons. "I" buttons are a good generic impression. For late war buttons, go with the Tate Script "I" which were coming in later in the war. U.S. buttons can go U.S. or Confederate. It would not be unusual to see an Eagle button on a Confederate uniform.

For more information on making your Civil War Uniforms Shirt and, send an email toshirt@civilwaruniforms.net Learn how to make your own wooden buttons!!

Coach McCoach has been reenacting the Civil War for 27 years. Units he has reenacted with include 4th North Carolina, 2nd Virginia and 21st Virginia, Company B. In the movie GETTYSBURG, he is the soldier holding General Garnett's horse while is talking to General Armistead before Pickett's Charge. His Kepi was used for the little boy in the movie made for the visitors center at Manassas. He received the Stonewall Brigade 1994 Authenticity Award for his uniform.

2004 permission granted to reprint this article in print on your website so long as the paragraph above is included and the contact information is included to coach@civilwaruniforms.net


MORE RESOURCES:

Mt. Sinai Program Lets Some Pre-Meds Swap Orgo for Shakespeare
Wall Street Journal (blog)
As the New York Times reports, the Humanities and Medicine Program tells a select group of 35 undergrads per year that if they major in the humanities or ...
Students with Humanities Background Equally Successful in Medical School as ...Newswise (press release)
Med school admission sans hard science? Mount Sinai says it's soFierceHealthcare
A Different Path to Medical SchoolNew York Times (blog)
HULIQ -Gawker -Honolulu Star-Advertiser
all 15 news articles »


Arts and Entertainment Calendar, updated July 30
TCPalm
Emerson Center Florida Humanities Series: Frank and Lisa Thomas. Emerson Center, 1590 27th Ave., Vero Beach, 7 pm, Dec. 2. ...

and more »


The Guiding Wisdom of the Humanities
Canada.com
The lure of secure and lucrative employment has enticed students away from the humanities, from those courses in art, literature, history, philosophy and ...



Diane Ravitch Named Fellow of The Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture
dBusinessNews Dallas (press release)
Dallas - The Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture has named Diane Silvers Ravitch, Ph.D., as a Fellow of the Institute. Ravitch is an historian of ...



Leverett's Chapel teacher attends humanities institute
Kilgore News Herald
Humanities Texas was delighted to cosponsor 'Shaping the American Republic to 1877,'” said Executive Director Michael L. Gillette. ...

and more »


Clyde Fitch Report (blog)

Could 1.49% Raise for the NEA Ignite Political War?
Clyde Fitch Report (blog)
Buck: The National Endowment for the Arts. The National Endowment for Humanities. Subsidies for many programs — we've got to look at privatizing some ...



More Space, More Students for Donahue Academy's 4th Year
The Ave Herald
Dr. Guernsey said the school has hired faculty for three new positions created to accommodate the school's growth: high school humanities, which will be ...



Cape May County Herald

Free Screening of 'Yes Men Fix the World'
Cape May County Herald
By Herald Staff CAPE MAY — Thanks to a grant from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, the Cape May Film Society is screening the film "The Yes Men ...



Quad-Cities Online

Davenport Civil Rights History Exhibit comes to Scott County Library
Quad-Cities Online
Funded by Humanities Iowa, several presentations are planned in conjunction with the exhibit. On September 9th at 6:30 pm, Scott Community College ...
ARMSTRONG v. DAVENPORT CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSIONLeagle.com

all 2 news articles »


UCSB breaks research funding record
Pacific Coast Business Times
Humanities programs, which often don't receive as many research funds, also garnered grants. A $315000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities ...
Record-Breaking Research FundingSanta Barbara Edhat

all 6 news articles »

Google News

home | site map
© 2006